--- title: Ono no Komachi author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono_no_Komachi/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Ono no Komachi _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Ono no Komachi was a poetess of great renown during the [Heian Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Heian_Period/) (794-1185 CE) of [ancient Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Japan/). The *Kokinshu* anthology, compiled in 905 CE, contains many of her poems, and her work and life inspired later writers of Noh drama. She is considered one of the *rokkasen* or Six [Immortals](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/immortals/) of Poetry in [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/). ### Biographical Details Very little is known of Komachi's life except that she was perhaps born between 820 and 830 CE and was active in the mid-9th century CE. She was famous for her beauty and passion, she likely served at the court of Emperor Ninmyo (r. 833-850 CE), and her poems were a success in her own lifetime. Beyond this sparse information we know only some of the lovers Komachi addressed her poems to. Still, this has not prevented a myriad of legends being created about the poetess based loosely on some details within her poems. Indeed, by the 11th century CE, there were so many stories based on the figure of Komachi that some scholars have identified the object of the legends as actually four different [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/). One of the most famous stories concerning Komachi is her rather harsh treatment of her admirer Fukakusa no Shosho. Komachi warned the would-be Romeo that he would have to visit her every night for 100 nights before she would submit to his charms. The poetess' beauty must indeed have been great for Fukakusa set about his task with determination and turned up each evening at Komachi's house in all weathers. Tragically, though, the strain proved too much and - so near, yet so far - Fukakusa died on the 99th night. Other legends concern the writer's later life and hard times when, perhaps in comeuppance for her notoriously bad treatment of admirers, she lived to be 100 but roamed the streets ugly and dressed only in rags, the object of mockery from all who passed her. The life of the poetess and the legends which sprang up about her became a popular subject with writers of Noh drama from the 14th century CE onwards. ### The Poems Like those of her contemporaries, Komachi's poems often have a theme of sadness or *mono no aware* ('the sadness of things'). They deal with such subjects as lost love, unrequited love, loneliness, and the passing of time symbolised by changes in nature, especially fading blossoms and the changing colour of leaves in autumn. The *Kokinshu* is an imperially commissioned anthology of poems with the full but less familiar title of *Kokin Wakashu*, meaning 'Collection of Ancient and Modern Waka Poems'. It was compiled by the poet Ki no Tsurayuki in 905 CE and contains 1,111 works in the *waka* form where each poem, written in Chinese, has 31 syllables divided into five lines of 5+7+5+7+7 syllables. The *Kokinshu* is our best source of the works of Ono no Komachi with 18 poems, and below are five examples which illustrate the poet's mix of passions and melancholy, as well as her use of words and phrase which are open to more than a single interpretation. The historian Donald Keene summarises Komachi's literary style in the following terms, > The intensity of emotion expressed in Komachi's poetry not only was without precedent but would rarely be encountered in later years. The poetry of the *Kokinshu* was usually pitched in a lower key, and the ingenious use of language was a [mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Mark/) not of overpowering emotion but of a kind of intellectuality. Komachi's poetry, however extravagant in expression, always seems sincere. (235) > The flowers withered > Their colour faded away, > While meaninglessly > I spent my days in brooding, > And the long rains were falling. > (Keene, 234) > This night of no moon > there is no way to meet him. > I rise in longing: > My breast pounds, a leaping flame, > my heart is consumed by fire. > (Keene, 235) > Ever since I saw > The man who is dear to me > While I was napping > I have begun to Believe > The things that people call dreams > (Keene, 1094) > In reality, > It may well have to be; > But even in my dreams > To see myself shrink from others' eyes > Is truly sad. > (Mason, 84) > So lonely am I > My body is a floating weed > Severed at the roots. > Were there water to entice me > I would follow it, I think. > (Keene, 235) This content was made possible with generous support from the [Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation](http://www.gbsf.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu). #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Henshall, K. *Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945.* Scarecrow Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0810878712/) - [Keene, D. *Seeds in the Heart.* Columbia University Press, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0231114419/) - [Mason, R.H.P. *A History of Japan.* Tuttle Publishing, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/080482097X/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **905 CE**: The Kokinshu anthology of poems is compiled in [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/) by Ki no Tsurayuki. ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2017, June 06). Ono no Komachi. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono\_no\_Komachi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono_no_Komachi/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Ono no Komachi." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 06, 2017. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono\_no\_Komachi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono_no_Komachi/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Ono no Komachi." *World History Encyclopedia*, 06 Jun 2017, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono\_no\_Komachi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ono_no_Komachi/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 06 June 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.